Pre-Departure Thoughts

Cayla Johnson
Senior
Marketing and Management

The suitcase is open on my bed and it’s a gaping, empty mouth waiting to be filled. It feels strange, looking at my wardrobe laid out in stacks, knowing that in just a few hours, these clothes will be in California.

If I’m being honest, I’m vibrating with a mix of nerves and pure, unadulterated excitement. I haven’t traveled much in my life, and I’ve certainly never been to the West Coast. This isn't just a business trip; it feels like the opening chapter of a much larger story. While the main goal is a series of meetings, I’m viewing this as an adventure in professional and personal growth.

There is so much potential packed into this itinerary. I’m walking into a room full of strangers who could become mentors, partners, or even lifelong friends. I’m ready to embrace every conversation, every handshake, and every "what if" that comes my way.

A Note to My Future Self:

I’m writing this before the plane takes off, as an anchor for the person I’ll be on the flight home.

Dear Future Me,

Did you stay open to the unexpected? Did you ask the questions that actually mattered in those meetings? I hope you didn't spend the whole time in the hotel .Did you get lost in the city? Was the California air everything you imagined it would be? Remember how you felt right now?! eager, hopeful, and ready for whatever is next. Don’t lose that spark once the routine sets back in.

I’m officially ready to head out. The world feels a little bigger today than it did yesterday, and I can't wait to see what’s waiting on the other side of the country.